Adolescent Vaccines - Information for Providers
Help Preteens Get All Recommended Vaccines
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recommends certain vaccines for preteens, as determined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vaccines for adolescents help prevent human papillomavirus (HPV vaccine); meningitis (meningococcal conjugate vaccine, or MCV4); tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap vaccine); and influenza (flu vaccine).These recommendations are supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.
Vaccines are part of a lifelong wellness strategy that will better protect your patients from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Any Adolescent Visit is a Good Time to Talk About Immunizations
Studies* show that a recommendation from a provider is the single best predictor of vaccination. Any medical visit by an adolescent is a good opportunity to discuss the recommended preteen vaccines. Help parents understand the benefits of getting the recommended vaccines for their children at the right time (during the preteen years), and how their children can catch up if they are behind on the immunization schedule. Also, remind parents that there are vaccines for their preteens that help prevent cervical cancer, whooping cough, and other life-threatening diseases. If you have the capability at your office or clinic, use technology (such as email reminders) to communicate with parents about their preteen's current immunizations. This can be especially helpful for the HPV vaccine, which requires three doses over a six-month period.
*Based on immunization research conducted in 2011 and 2012 for the DSHS Immunization Branch
Talk With Parents and Caregivers About Vaccines
Some parents may have concerns about vaccine safety. They may not fully understand what each vaccine protects against. And they may not understand why some vaccines need to be given during adolescence. Take the time to listen to the concerns of parents. Remind them that these vaccines are safe and can help prevent illness, hospitalization, and even death. The CDC has a number of helpful resources for talking with parents about vaccines, including the vaccine for HPV.
Make Use of Additional Resources
There are many resources available to help you ensure your adolescent patients receive needed vaccinations. Your first step can be to direct patients to the preteen-specific section of the Immunize Texas website.
ImmTrac, the Texas immunization registry, helps providers and parents track immunization histories.